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Showing posts with label Stonehenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stonehenge. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Wales, at last!

I can't believe how busy we have been, Wales already seems so long ago & I have not even posted the photos yet!
The converted barns where we stayed were fantastic!! So comfortable with the thickest walls I have ever seen. Built of course before central heating so designed to keep out the unrelenting winds coming straight off the sea. Daisy has discovered a new love - open fires!! LOL We went for daily walks on the beach just down the paddock with the dogs & she would rush back into the house & head straight for the fire. Then at JB's she decided that the gas fire would be good enough.
The miracle was waiting for some bean to fire it up!
My phone booth. Need I say the reception was not the best? The sheep were very friendly.

View from the farm

The South of Wales in Pembrokeshire is a beautiful part of the world. We were very struck by how familiar the landscape felt. It is no wonder New South Wales in Australia was named after the place. It was kind of like driving around Kiama, Jamberoo & Gerringong.  The beaches were fantastic, so remote & windswept. Sand beaches not shingle like in other parts of UK. We went to the beach where they filmed scenes from Harry Potter. (Where Dobby died for the fans).

High up on the dunes at Dead Dobby beach

Loved this beach
Under a Mackerel sky
We had a very relaxing time cooking & driving around the area. The Prince was able to do some writing, I managed to stitch a very little (the light at night was not great) & we all had long walks with the dogs.

Loads of square towers on the churches in Wales

Huge fort on the beach at Tenby
Huge cave on the beach at Tenby - That is JB & Big Daisy the Border Collie
Nature as filled in by Humans
Daisy - just a little shagged after a day in the sea air with a huge walk at Tenby  




We spent one day driving out to see St David's Cathedral. We stopped & had lunch at Solva in a great pub. St David's is today incredibly remote but would probably have been much busier in it's heyday. The decor is amazing! Tiles on the floor, paintings, stained glass, carvings. Just breathtaking the skill of the craftspeople.







On the way home to London we were heading for Bristol but missed the turn & ended up going cross country headed for Sailsbury. What I didn't know was that we were going to go past something that has been on my bucket list since I was a history obsessed child. I can't tell you how excited I was to finally be in the presence of such a wonder. I had the same feeling when I was standing on a bridge in Paris. I really did not believe that I would ever see these things & it is so moving to be here. I know everyone says this but seriously, if anyone had told me 5 years ago that I would be living in the UK I would have had them certified.  I feel so blessed to be living the life I am even if it has been very stressful of late. Mind you I can hear my besties saying, "What's new??".
The experience has made me decide to actually write the list & get onto doing everything before I am too decrepit to enjoy myself. Don't worry, there will be no throwing myself out of or climbing anything.




Being there at sunset just made it all the more special. I know they have done it to protect the stones but it is such a shame the you can't touch them anymore. Who knows though? One day it might happen. After all, I have touched a Monet.

I know. I'm bad. Still glad I did it.

Loving what I do.

Lush x

Monday, July 23, 2012

A little weekend Sacrilege

 We were up early on Saturday morning & off to partake in some of the London 2012 Festival events. First off was North Greenwich to see and play on the life size Stonehenge Jumping Castle. This is an art installation by Turner prize winning artist Jeremy Deller. If you get a chance - go do it! It was so much fun, granted I only had a very little seated bounce on the edge (there is the dodgy back to consider after all) but everyone seemed to have great fun bouncing like kids again.


The local gymnastics kids demonstrating their skills prior to letting everyone at it!!

Next, we were off to Dalston Kingsland High Street for a view of the parade. The floats were lovely & the people trying to maintain their energy but this was difficult when they had to wait at the lights to let the traffic go by!! I have never seen anything like it. I am so used to the streets being closed off for parades so this was a novelty & I felt very sorry for the folk trying to maintain the energy & excitement.


This was the small obstruction, next was a bus!!





After this we went the the Dalston Waste markets (photos of my finds tomorrow) then we walked around 3 kilometres (buses were on diversion) to meet the Princes' brothers for lunch. Lovely lunch at a pub called by coincidence, The Prince. Great food but oh my how many babies were there?? You could barely get through for the buggies LOL. It was a veritable baby boom right there in Stoke Newington. Some real cuties amongst them & some really fresh ones too. We got a little clucky. Then we came to our senses. LOL

Off home for some serious rest & then a lovely lamb roast on the BBQ with our student boarders. Very lovely day.

Loving what I do.

Lush x